Wearable Technology: The Next Big Thing for DDL is Here

There is little debate that techwear is one of today’s fastest-growing areas of innovation. However familiar and recognizable smartphones are and will remain, as wearable technologies – including smart watches, belts, ear buds, and eyeglasses, among others – become less imposing and increasingly adopted, the market will shift to accommodate a reliable, energy-efficient, fully-integrated on-body experience. As the adept leader in digital identification, our DDL has gotten in on the action.

Separating Hope from Hype

The initial quantum leap in deploying our digital design process for DDL on wearable devices occurred as we debuted the technology on the Apple Watch at AAMVA’s 2018 International Conference. Among the goals and early success markers for a wearable version of DDL, we sought to create real-world impact by launching an innovative tool that offers the convenience of wearable technology, while harnessing our best-in-class experience securing digital identities. We were deliberate in taking the lessons learned from our groundbreaking pilot testing DDLs for smartphones in order to make the next generation of digital identity proofing available on the wearable devices that are shaping the market today.

As a benchmark in the agile transformation to wearables, and the long-term vision for DDL, we employed several key factors in our evaluation of DDL on wearable devices:

1) Human-Centric DesignAs in the careful construction of DDL for smartphones, we have designed DDL for wearable devices with a precise and accessible user interface that allows adopters to feel comfortable verifying their identities using the latest technology. DDL for wearables offers streamlined communication between the user and the verifier simply by activating your wearable device, instead of searching for and presenting your physical credential on the fly. When it comes to sustainability for users and verifiers, our system is representative of early successes on the wearable technology terrain by looking at the broad landscape of wearable platforms and products. That is, with its solid framework, DDL can function across the spectrum of emerging platforms and providers with ease and reliability.

2) Privacy in PublicJust as DDL on your smartphone has built-in security features which enable end-to-end protection of the personal information contained within the digital credential, DDL on wearable devices likewise limits the personal data that is exposed during typical verification transactions.The wearable DDL presents only the personal information that is necessary in a given verification scenario, and it utilizes the same encryption protocols and standardization available in the smartphone solution. Further, your wearable DDL communicates seamlessly with law enforcement, airport security, and any number of merchant vendors requiring proof-of-age validation, but the transaction is designed to prevent the overexposure of user data by providing the validator only the information that is required to complete the verification.

3) Efficiency & ReliabilityDDLs on both smartphones and wearable technology function dependably in offline mode. Communication between the user’s device and the verifier is not dependent on connectivity in the field. This ensures efficiency and security for the end user – no hang-ups, no negative bystander impact or social friction, no delays in completing your ID verification securely every time. At no point are the personal details used in DDL verification transactions stored or logged, rather it is a convenient, reliable way to speed through the everyday process of proving your identity, with data coming directly from the state DMV or DOT agency.

Creating the Future Together

Wearables are poised to change our world, and the success of digital activity trackers and wireless-enabled health monitors has established a desired standard of quality for consumers. Indeed, a report from the Consumer Intelligence Series at PwC states that by 2020, over 75 million wearable devices will be used at the workplace. This eager adoption also sets a high bar for partnerships within the growing sector. As we enhance the benefits of DDL by bringing it to wearable devices, we will continue to rely on the data protection and standardization upheld by our allies and advocates in the government sector to refine the solution and to ensure that it meets the needs of their constituents and colleagues, while continuing to put the power of mobile convenience and security in your hands.

What do you think?How eager are you to use wearable technology in your everyday life? In what scenarios do you most benefit from using a wearable device? Do you see the convenience associated with using wearables to validate your ID on-the-go? Share your thoughts below!

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